The Positives of Resolutions

Let's talk about resolutions.  We all know them, that thing every new year we promise to do.  Whether it's to exercise more or eat healthy or get that dream job we want.  Resolutions can be big or small, but the point of them is to say out loud those promises we've been saying to ourselves all year round but haven't gotten around to doing.  And, believe it or not, resolutions can be great for writers.  As writers, motivation helps to keep us going, to keep us writing and what better motivation is there than the promise to do something by end of year.  It gives us a deadline and sometimes deadlines can motivate us to move along quicker than usual.  Ever notice how quick we are to pay a bill on time.  It's because of that due date, the notion that we only have a specific amount of time to get something paid.  It's the same with using resolutions to help us get that writing project done and at the end of the year, not only have we accomplished our New Years resolution, but we've also accomplished actually finishing something. 

Over the years, I have used New Years to accomplish tasks that otherwise would have taken me forever to do.  Whether it's because of fear, laziness, or life, I sometimes find myself not doing what I need to get my writing going.  One year, I resolved to get my first book written and by Christmas, it was done.  Another year, I resolved to send out as many query letters as I could.  By the summer, I had 10 letters out there.  And this year, I have resolved to finish writing my second book.  I know I will get it done.  Why, because I have given myself a deadline and I know myself well enough to know, I don't miss deadlines.

The fact is resolutions can be more than just words we speak on December 31st.  We can actually use them for something positive and what better way to use them then to motivate us to write.  Isn't that what writers do?  We write, we work on projects that will give us an end result of a book or short story or poem.  But sometimes we just need the motivation.  So, this year, let's resolve to finally get that project done.  I know that's my goal.  How about you?